State issues warning over toxic seafood

Sardines are among the species of fish health officials are warning could be tainted with domoic acid. (Photo: San Francisco Chronicle)

State officials are advising consumers to stay away from certain types of seafood caught in the waters off Monterey and Santa Cruz counties after a toxic chemical was detected in some of the fish.

The California Department of Public Health issued the warning Thursday, telling the public to avoid sardines, anchovies and the internal organs of crabs because some samples from the region tested positive for domoic acid.

Domoic acid typically resides in the digestive tracts of the fish.

Symptoms of domoic acid poisoning usually set in between 30 minutes to 24 hours after eating tainted seafood and can include nausea, headaches, dizziness, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. Severe cases can cause trouble breathing, loss of short-term memory, coma or death.

So far no cases of illness have been reported in association with the warning, the agency said.

The warning expands on an April 4 advisory issued by the health department about domoic acid in bivalves harvested in the two counties, including mussels, scallops, clams and oysters.

That warning only applied to seafood caught by recreational fishermen, the agency said, adding that commercially sold shellfish are tested regularly and are fine for eating.